The defeat against Michigan State reminds Purdue how small things can be bulky

"They're piling up, and that's obvious," Barron said.

Even a one-in-two victory if you're lucky, like the one Purdue had against Ohio State last week, does not change the basic rules of competition.

Little things always matter. The details of the minute count. You do not climb a ladder in the Big Ten Conference. You climb a stone wall, and each badly placed foot, each fingertip can take you back to the platform you struggled with so much trouble.

More: Michigan State 23, Purdue 13: Boilermaker Standings

After Saturday's loss, the boilermakers returned to 4-4. Unless there's a lot of help in the league – and their own wins over Iowa and Wisconsin over the next two weeks – there's no question of thinking about the Big Ten West title.

How can a team record a week of overwhelming victory and look so ordinary the following week?

Yes, Purdue has not run the ball well, but few teams are succeeding against the Spartans. Of course, Michigan State has found the distance in the game of passing on short touch roads. If you have not noticed, all other opponents of Boilermaker will do it too. The increase of 40 points per week tends to obscure some of these more subtle points.

Purdue did not lose on Saturday because of catastrophic systemic failures or even a general lack of talent. He lost because, in a handful of critical moments in the space of 60 minutes, Michigan State showed his courage and the Boilermakers seemed all too confused.

Over time, this could serve as a reminder to Purdue, needed after four consecutive wins. The lesson clearly resonated a few minutes after the match.

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Defender Lorenzo Neal at Saturday's loss
Mike Carmin, Journal & Courier

"It's all," defensive striker Lorenzo Neal said. "It's a film study, it's the difficulty you face in practice, it's where you put your hand on a blocker, because you may not be able to turn around and make a piece that you are supposed to do and you will lose the game.

"We try to come down and help everyone understand that the details are what is most important.Everyone will have talent and you need to make less mistakes than the other one . "

Purdue made the win so difficult in a 0-3 start, then seemed so easy in a four-game winning streak.

The impressive attack of Boston College? How about 2.5 yards per race. Play Nebraska at Memorial Stadium? Try a 42-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. Illinois on the road? Lovie Smith's beard was another whiter shade at halftime.

This momentum builds to a crescendo against Ohio State and a flawless 49-20 win over a night that West Lafayette will keep forever.

Boilermakers' opinions remained mixed after Saturday's loss to the way the team managed this success. Barron immediately canceled any discussion on the hangover.

"That's not the case," said Barron. "We've probably gone out a bit flat, but it's a very talented ball club."

Jacob Thieneman did not reject the idea. Neal no more. The two junior advocates reported feeling that collective concentration sometimes stems from practice. Purdue did not come to Spartan Stadium with excessive confidence, but he may have forgotten enough details in the last six days to come home in case of defeat.

For example:

• The state of Michigan led 3-0 early by giving Purdue an absolute gift. Brandon Sowards blocked a punt return and Jarrett Burgess re-entered the Spartans' 30th birthday. Twice later, in Michigan's first goal, Michigan State blew up the screen and lost 7 yards. Purdue was content with a goal that equalized the match.

• Including the touchdown of a Terry Wright touchdown, the Boilermakers have played only seven times in the Michigan State Red Zone. Even worse, they scored 6 yards.

• Spencer Evans scored a goal of 52 yards in the final seconds of the first half, which would have resulted in Purdue in the 13-9. Except that he did it when the officials whistled the game for a false start. From 57 yards, Evans fell to about 5 yards.

• When Purdue blocked an investment in Michigan State early in the third quarter, he almost canceled the achievement by tapping the ball while he was still alive. Backed at his 1, the Boilermakers scored three goals, hit, and Michigan State went from front to back and kicked the score.

• And who knows what will happen if Purdue protects better in the 42-yard test by Evans with less than four minutes to play. That would have created a draw 16-16 and gave a jump to Boilermakers. Instead, the state of Michigan has taken the lead for the decisive touchdown.

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Purdue Athletics expresses support for Tyler Trent
Purdue Athletics

None of the above takes into account the many times that rookie starter MSU of first rookie, Rocky Lombardi, knocked over open receivers by dragging on the pitch. If this match could have been closer if Purdue had corrected the problems above, he could easily have been out of reach much earlier than the last few minutes.

On arrival, Purdue's turnover avoidance seemed untenable. Whether against the Spartans or a week later against Iowa or the following week against Wisconsin, the Boilermakers had to surrender for a week during which the ball bounced contrary to their wishes. This danger, by the way, remains on the horizon.

In retrospect, it was inevitable that someone corral Moore. Michigan State licensed the viral Wunderkind video to win 77 yards in 11 receptions. Perhaps more importantly, the Spartans were less likely to bite Moore's overcompensation and shut down Purdue's other potential receive options.

Purdue needed to win Saturday with his most dynamic and limited weapon with adversity in play piling up on the road. This is a difficult test, and that of the Boilermakers has not succeeded.

It will not be the last either. The margin of error against the Hawkeyes will be just as small.

Purdue has six days to smooth out wrinkles and solve the most delicate problems.